This story was excerpted from Jessica Camerato's Nationals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Twenty-four hours before the 2024 MLB Draft, the Nationals traded a key member of their Major League bullpen to look ahead to the future.
The Nats acquired third-base prospect Cayden Wallace and a Competitive Balance Round A pick (No. 39 overall) from the Royals in exchange for setup reliever Hunter Harvey on Saturday night. Wallace was ranked as Kansas City’s No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and he slotted in at No. 6 on the Nationals' list.
Washington will select picks No. 10, 39 and 44 on Day 1 when the Draft begins Sunday night.
The 2024 MLB Draft will be held at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, as part of All-Star Weekend.
2024 Draft presented by Nike:
Draft Tracker | First-round signings | All-time biggest bonuses
Pick-by-pick analysis: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
Bazzana goes No. 1 | Wake Forest makes history | Mariners nab switch-pitcher | Top 7 Day 1 storylines | Best hauls | Our favorite picks | Famous family ties | Biggest steals | These picks could be new club No. 1's | Picks who could be quickest to bigs | Sons of Manny, Big Papi selected | Complete coverage
How to watch the Draft
Coverage starts at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday with a preview show on MLB Network, MLB.TV, MLB.com and the MLB app. The first round of the Draft will be broadcast by ESPN. Day 2 (Rounds 3-10) and Day 3 (Rounds 11-20) will be streamed on MLB.com beginning at 2 p.m. ET.
Which picks are selected on Day 1?
Rounds 1 and 2, compensatory rounds, Competitive Balance rounds and prospect promotion incentive selections
What is the Nationals' Draft bonus pool?
$13,895,100
Latest MLB Pipeline mock Draft
Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard-Westlake HS, Studio City, Calif. (No. 10)
Grabbing a high-ceiling player like Rainer or Griffin would fit the Nationals' modus operandi. They also wouldn't mind a shot at the college players projected with the top eight picks above. -- Jim Callis
Konnor Griffin, SS/OF, Jackson Prep, Flowood, Miss. (No. 9)
The Nationals don’t shy away from risk-taking and they could look back and realize they got the best player in the class with the best all-around tools years from now. – Jonathan Mayo
Nationals’ recent first overall Draft picks
2023: No. 2, OF Dylan Crews, LSU
2022: No. 5, OF Elijah Green, IMG Academy
2021: No. 11, SS (now 3B) Brady House, Winder-Barrow HS
2020: No. 22, RHP Cade Cavalli, University of Oklahoma
2019: No. 17, RHP Jackson Rutledge, San Jacinto College
Last 10 No. 10 overall picks
2023: RHP Noble Meyer, Marlins
2022: RHP Gabriel Hughes, Rockies
2021: RHP Kumar Rocker, Mets
2020: LHP Reid Detmers, Angels
2019: OF Hunter Bishop, Giants
2018: OF Travis Swaggerty, Pirates
2017: OF Jo Adell, Angels
2016: C Zack Collins, White Sox
2015: SS Cornelius Randolph, Phillies
2014: OF Michael Conforto, Mets
The last time the Nationals selected at No. 10 was 2009 when they drafted right-hander Drew Storen.
Top 5 No. 10 picks (by bWAR)
1984: Mark McGwire, Athletics (62.1)
1988: Robin Ventura, White Sox (56.1)
1967: Ted Simmons, Cardinals (50.4)
1979: Tim Wallach, Expos (38.5)
1996: Eric Chavez, Athletics (38.3)
Top 5 No. 39 picks (by bWAR)
1982: Barry Bonds, Giants (162.8)
2008: Lance Lynn, Cardinals (29.2)
1967: Don Baylor, Orioles (28.5)
2012: Joey Gallo, Rangers (15.5)
1987: Todd Hundley, Mets via Orioles (10.9)
Top 5 No. 44 picks (by bWAR)
2002: Joey Votto, Reds (64.5)
1992: Jon Lieber, Royals via Yankees (24.2)
1990: Bob Wickman, White Sox (16.9)
2010: Nick Castellanos, Tigers (14)
2011: Michael Fulmer, Mets (12.6)
Senior Reporter Jessica Camerato covers the Nationals for MLB.com.